08/02/2026
BOOMER'S STORY (a little bit long)
This is Boomer, one of my working dogs. She is a 6 year old Smithfield x Huntaway. She's never been much of a jumper and she lacks power in her hind end. She was one of my case studies when I completed my Canine Practitioner qualification a couple of years ago and one of the reasons I wanted to learn ConTact CARE in canines was to help her to move freely!
Boomer hurt her back/pelvis about 10 days ago, she was suddenly having trouble keeping up with the side x side after shifting a mob of lambs and wasn't wanting to run. So I rested her on pain meds until she could get into the vets. I've attached the x-rays, they're pretty astounding for a dog that does everything. She hunts, heads, works in the yards, cattle, sheep, you name it, she does it. Many of her vertebrae are fused, so a large part of her back cannot move at all. She has spondylosis of non fused vertebrae and the vet thinks the fusing of vertebrae will continue forward until they're all fused. They call this Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH). A rare disease.
Apparently there's no going back on this so what can we do? Firstly, she needs to be comfortable so rest and pain medication as required. I'll be giving her ConTact CARE to ensure that the rest of her body is able to carry the damaged parts better, easier and with less pain. Supplements to help her, at the moment I've got her on a deer velvet/green lipped muscle based formulation. I'm also thinking boron to put the calcium where it should be. The theory is that this starts with calcification of the ventral longitudinal ligament, so calcium where it shouldn't be. I'm a big believer in treating holistically, so all things work together, it's all connected!
I did not know ConTact CARE when Boomer was young, I wish I had so I could have addressed the issue earlier and even if this was inevitable, I believe I could have put it off for a few more years. I have a daughter of Boomer's here and I did notice when she was a very small pup that her back was the exact same shape as her mother's, so I gave her ConTact CARE and her back did change shape and she shows no signs of being unable to jump at this stage. She is 10 months old. I will continue to treat her as maintenance so she doesn't end up like her mother. The vet said it's not hereditary but there is some evidence to the contrary so....
I have treated 6 week old pups that were suddenly anti social after being friendly and outgoing, released the flinchlocks in their heads and they were immediately social again.
I've treated dogs with extreme long term lameness where they were carrying the leg 50% of the time, that were no longer lame after treatment. Dogs that can't keep up with the bike, then they can.
Our working dogs do so much, they put their bodies on the line everyday, just like us! They're incredibly brave and super tough!
What we can do is give them the maintenance that they deserve so they can live comfortably while doing what they love. It's a lot cheaper than vet bills!
Pm or ph/txt for info or to book 027 543 1045.
